Photo courtesy of Justin Costea / Medicine Hat Cubs

By Scott Roblin

Cubs Cancelled

Cubs season cancelled following decision on Junior ‘B’ hockey

Feb 10, 2021 | 7:06 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The 2020-21 season is over for the Medicine Hat Cubs following a decision on Wednesday by Hockey Alberta.

Hockey’s governing body in the province announced on Wednesday night that the competitive seasons for all junior and senior hockey, minus the Alberta Junior Hockey League, were to be cancelled due to restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

This includes several Junior ‘B’ leagues across the province, listing the Heritage Junior Hockey League among them.

In a statement on Twitter, the club thanked “Players, families, sponsors, and fans for their patience this year. We all knew it was going to be a difficult season and all we can do is get ready for next season.”

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It’s been a turbulent season for the Cubs, first opting out of the HJHL in the summer before reversing course following the election of an almost entirely new board.

A complete revamping of the club’s coaching staff and front office followed with co-head coaches Steve Leipert and J.D. Gaetan relieved of their duties, along with general manager Dave Kowalchuk.

Longtime Medicine Hat U18 AA Hounds bench boss Randy Wong was subsequently tabbed as the team’s new head coach and general manager with the Cubs hoping to build on a breakout season in 2019-20.

There wasn’t much opportunity for that however, as Medicine Hat only played two games over the Halloween weekend posting a 1-1 record before positive cases of COVID-19 were detected on their opponents from Coaldale.

A league-wide shutdown occurred the following week in November, which was ultimately never lifted.

While most teams around the HJHL will see players end their junior careers in this fashion, the Cubs do not have any 1999-born players on their roster and can return the entirety of their team in the fall.

More to come…